India’s passport has strengthened its global standing, enabling citizens to travel to 59 countries without a visa, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index released on Tuesday.
India now holds the 77th position, up from 80th last year, sharing its rank with Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. The country has recorded its second consecutive climb in the annual index, which assesses 199 passports based on the number of destinations they provide visa-free access to.
The index, compiled by London-based Henley & Partners using International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, includes 227 travel destinations and is considered an authoritative measure of passport strength.
While India had access to 62 countries without a visa last year, the current tally stands at 59. The drop in absolute number has not prevented a relative gain in ranking, as other nations have seen more modest mobility improvements.
Singapore retained its top rank with visa-free access to 194 countries, followed by Japan and South Korea with access to 190 destinations. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain share third place, offering entry into 189 countries without a visa.
India’s South Asian neighbours fared lower in the rankings. Pakistan moved up to 96th, improving from its previous rank of 101.
Visa-free access for Indian passport holders includes 19 countries in Africa, 18 in Asia, 10 in North America, 10 in Oceania and one in South America. These include popular destinations like Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, Kenya, Jamaica and Qatar.
The index also noted a growing number of Indian travellers benefiting from streamlined visa agreements, particularly in the Asia-Pacific and African regions, as New Delhi continues to negotiate mobility partnerships and trade-related travel facilitation.
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The full list of 59 visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries for Indian passport holders includes:
Africa: Angola, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Asia: Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste.
Oceania: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
North America & Caribbean: Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.
South America: Bolivia.
Henley & Partners, in its commentary, noted that passport power is increasingly tied to diplomatic engagement, trade ties and strategic agreements. India’s steady rise reflects both geopolitical outreach and increased international collaboration in the post-pandemic period.
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